System, method and apparatus for servicing support poles

ABSTRACT

An annulus excavation tool that would surround the decayed pole or pile and hydraulically excavate the annulus around the pole down to −2.0′ via a jetting manifold. A vacuum/tremie manifold is selectively coupled to a vacuum source to remove the soil and decayed material and creating a bonding surface for the mortar. The annulus tool would then be coupled to the mortar source and raised while a UHPC mortar would be tremied into the tool for delivery into the annulus. When the tool reaches ground level the rest of the pour is done using a Sonotube or other temporary form. This mortar encasement not only makes up for the structural deficiencies but also isolates the pole from both air and water which then kills the existing fungi and insects while also preventing any future invasion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 62/792,672, filed Jan. 15, 2019, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to utility poles and structural poles, andmore particularly to the prevention and remediation of decay in woodenstructural poles proximal to their insertion point in a ground surface.

There are over 150 million wooden utility poles and about 50 millionwooden structural piles in service domestically today. The utility polesare used to support wires for both power and telecommunication. Thewooden structural piles support all types of structures includingbuildings, foundations, RR trusses, bridges, piers, marinas, docks andwharfs. Most of these poles and piles have been pressure treated withsome type of preservative, such as creosote, penta, or CCA. As thepreservative depletes over time, the poles/piles become susceptible tobiotic degradation caused by moisture, fungi, and insect activity.

In order for this decay to flourish the environment around the woodpoles require moisture, oxygen, heat, and food. Most of the decaytherefore occurs around the base of the pole/pile where it enters theground surface (typically from +0.5′ to −1.5′) where these conditionsare present. The presence of this decay has left many poles weakenedstructurally and badly in need of remediation.

Piles installed in marine conditions have fungi and insect damage at thewaterline. In addition they are subject to marine borer attack. Of theseborers, Gribbies attack primarily at the tide line. Others like Shipwormand Pholads attack under water and in the mud.

Millions of poles are remediated every year to correct both structuraldeficiencies and to stop fungi and insect infestation. The present stateof the art of utility poles is first, to dig an 18″ deep and 12″ wideannulus/hole around the base of the pole to enable the removal of thedecayed wood material on the pole exterior, cleaning the pole, and thentreating the pole with a chemical substance to slow future insectactivity. In the event of serious structural loss due to damage anddecay, a truss or other structural member is driven into the groundalongside the pole. The truss is then banded to the pole so the newstructural member can replace the structural integrity of the pole lostto the decay.

In the case of structural piles hand dig around the pile, clean out thedecay, secure reinforcement, apply carbon fiber wrap and encapsulatewith epoxy resin.

This current method is labor intensive and expensive. It doesn't solvethe decay problem permanently as the insects will still come back. Thesolution is also aesthetically not acceptable in many locations.Likewise, use of the preservation chemical is not always environmentallyacceptable in certain locales.

As can be seen, there is a need for a pole repair method that achievesboth the stopping of the insect decay of the poles and also restores thestructural integrity of the pole, in the same operation taking advantageof this cost efficiency. This invention will result in a one stepprocess where the pole will be remediated structurally but also will nolonger have water or air access and therefor will no longer need anyfurther treatment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an annulus excavation tool isdisclosed. The annulus excavation tool includes a cylindrical sidewalldimensioned to surround a circumference of a support pole to beserviced. A jetting manifold is configured to receive a pressurizedfluid source. A plurality of spaced apart fluid jets are in fluidcommunication with the jetting manifold. The plurality of fluid jets aredisposed in a spaced apart relation within an interior of thecylindrical sidewall and are oriented to eject the pressurized fluiddownward towards a ground surface surrounding the support pole.

A vacuum/tremie manifold is configured for communication with a vacuumsource. A plurality of vacuum/tremie ports are in communication with thevacuum/tremie manifold. The plurality of vacuum/tremie ports aredisposed in a spaced apart relation within the cylindrical sidewall andare oriented to evacuate a back fill material from the ground surfacesurrounding the support pole to define a void.

In some embodiments, the annulus excavation tool also includes aplurality of auxiliary jets oriented towards an interior of thecylindrical sidewall. The plurality of auxiliary jets direct thepressurized fluid source against an exterior surface the support pole.In other embodiments the plurality of auxiliary jets are orientedtowards an exterior of the cylindrical sidewall.

In some embodiments, the annulus excavation tool is formed with aplurality of segments. Each segment includes a portion of each of thecylindrical sidewall, the jetting manifold, the vacuum/tremie manifold;the plurality of fluid jets, and the plurality of vacuum/tremie ports. Afastener may join each of the plurality of segments.

In other embodiments, the vacuum/tremie manifold and the plurality ofvacuum/tremie ports are configured to deliver a liquid mortar mix intothe void.

In other aspects of the invention, a method of reinforcing a supportpole is disclosed. The method includes attaching an annulus excavationtool around a support pole installed in a ground surface, the annulusexcavation tool having a cylindrical sidewall. A pressurized fluidsource is applied to the annulus excavation tool. The pressurized fluidsource is applied to dislodge a backfill material retaining the supportpole in the ground surface by a plurality of fluid jets disposed in aspaced apart relation around an interior surface of the cylindricalsidewall of the annulus excavation tool.

In other embodiments, the method includes evacuating the dislodgedbackfill material by a vacuum source applied to a plurality ofvacuum/tremie ports. The vacuum/tremie ports are disposed in a spacedapart relation about the annulus excavation tool.

In other embodiments, the pressurized fluid is directed against adecayed surface of the support pole via a plurality of inwardly orientedauxiliary jets in communication with the pressurized fluid source.

The method may also include selectively lowering the annulus excavationtool to progressively dislodge and evacuate the backfill material to adesired depth in the ground surface. The desired depth may be defined ata point below the decayed surface of the support pole.

In yet other steps, the method includes injecting a liquid mortarmixture through the vacuum/tremie ports to fill a void around thesupport created by the evacuation of the dislodged backfill material.The method may also include selectively withdrawing the annulusexcavation tool to fill the void with the liquid mortar mixture.

In other embodiments, the method includes applying a sonotube or atemporary steel form, around the support pole. The sonotube extends adesired vertical distance above the ground surface. The liquid mortarmixture may then be poured into the sonotube. The sonotube may be filledwith the liquid mortar mixture to the desired vertical distance.

In yet other aspects of the invention, a system for servicing a supportpole installation is disclosed. The system includes an annulusexcavation tool having a plurality of jets oriented to direct apressurized fluid source to dislodge a backfill material retaining thesupport pole in a ground surface. A plurality of vacuum/tremie portsselectively evacuate the dislodged backfill material to define a voidaround the support pole and communicate a liquid mortar to fill thevoid. A reservoir containing a volume of the fluid and a pressuredelivery pump in communication with the reservoir are also provided. Asuction pump selectively communicates with the plurality ofvacuum/tremie ports and a soil decant is provided to contain a quantityof the evacuated backfill material.

In some embodiments, a mixing unit is configured to mix a predeterminedquantity of the liquid mortar. A tremie pump is provided that is incommunication with the mixing unit to selectively deliver the liquidmortar to the vacuum/tremie ports.

In other embodiments, a materials container is configured to communicatea predetermined quantity of a dry mortar mix to the mixing unit.

In other embodiments, a storage unit is provided for storing the annulusexcavation tool and a generator for powering one or more of the pressuredelivery pump, the suction pump, the tremie pump, and the mixing unit.

In yet other embodiments, a control station has a plurality of controlsfor operating one or more of the generator, the pressure delivery pump,the suction pump, the tremie pump, and the mixing unit.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a view of a damaged utility pole utilizing a repair methodaccording to aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1b is a close up view of a damaged utility pole utilizing therepair method.

FIG. 2a is a side elevation view of a trailer mounted system forrepairing a support pole annulus according to aspects of the invention.

FIG. 2b is a top plan view of the trailer mounted system for repairing asupport pole annulus.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the stages of the a support pole repairprocess.

FIG. 4 is an image depicting four stages in the support pole repairprocess.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an the annulus tool 40.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the annulus tool 40.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method,and apparatus for the prevention and restoration of decayed supporttimbers that have a base end that is driven into or buried in a groundsurface. The support poles may include: utility poles, support pylonsfor piers, retaining walls, elevated construction, and the like.

As seen in reference to the non-limiting embodiment shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B, aspects of the present invention include a support pole 10having a decayed area 12 proximal to a ground surface 14 into which abase end of the support pole 10 is buried. The decayed area 12 of thesupport pole 10 may be repaired by the application of an encasingannulus 16 surrounding the support pole 10 above and below the groundsurface 14. As will be appreciated, the ground surface 14 may be belowthe surface of a body of water in which the support pole 10 is emplaced.Preferably the encasing annulus 16 is formed of a concrete or acementitious material.

Wood decay is present, primarily from +0.5′ to −1.5′ because moistureand oxygen are typically available at these depths. The types of decaythat cause ground line failure to wooden utility poles include: soft rotor exterior rot; core rot; and brown rot. Soft rot is where the outerpart of the pole is attacked by decaying organisms present in the soil.Core rot attacks the center of the pole. Although the figures showexterior rot this invention will cure both types of rot because waterand oxygen can't infiltrate to the pole.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the invention when appliedto a 40′ wooden utility support pole 10 with a bottom end 11 that isembedded in 6′ of soil. Wood decay 12 is present, proximal to the groundsurface 14, primarily from a range of +0.5′ to −1.5′ relative to theground surface 14. These dimensions are representative only, and areindicative of the condition of one of many of the millions of supportpoles 10 which are in need decay remediation. As will be appreciatedwith the benefit of the present disclosure, the encasing annulus 16 maybe applied as a remedial measure for the restoration of a support pole10 with decay 12 or the encasing annulus 16 may be applied in anoriginal installation of a support pole 10.

A system for installation of an encasing annulus 16 to a decayed area 12of a support pole 10 may be seen in reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. Thesystem may be mounted on a truck or a trailer 31 that is towed by atractor vehicle 34 to carry equipment on site and between sites. Thesystem provides a pressurized fluid source, a vacuum source, and amortar delivery source. As described more fully below, an annulus tool40 is utilized to direct a jet of a pressurized liquid, such as water,around the periphery of the support pole 10, to facilitate evacuation ofthe soils around the pole and define a void 36 in a space surroundingthe decayed area 12 of the support pole 10. Use of the annulus tool 40also includes suctioning off the released soils from the void 36 aroundthe support pole 10. Use of the annulus tool 40 also includes injectinga mortar mixture 52 into the void 36 to form the encasing annulus 16.

With a basic understanding of the system from the foregoing, the systemincludes a control unit 20 for control of the system and one or morepumps 22. The control unit 20 controls the one or more pumps 22, whichmay include a pressurized delivery pump 22, a suction pump 22′ and, atremie delivery pump 22″. The one or more pumps 22 are in fluidcommunication with the annulus tool 40 via a conduit 18 for each of thepressurized delivery pump 22, the suction pump 22′, and the tremie pump22″.

The system also includes a storage container 24, preferably at a forwardend of the trailer 31. The storage container 24 is utilized to securethe annulus tool 40, associated tools, conduits, connectors, andsupplies for operation of the system. An electric generator for powerrequired by the system may also be carried in the storage container 24or otherwise mounted to the trailer 31.

A bulk storage 26 is provided for carriage and containment of a quantityof mortar mix, which may be carried in bulk, or in a plurality of bags.The bulk storage 26 may include a hopper to feed a mixing unit 30 to mixthe mortar mix with a specified quantity of water, carried in a waterreservoir 28 and in fluid communication with the mixing unit 30 and thepump 22. The mixing unit 30 may also receive predetermined quantities ofother additives, such as plasticizers, colorants, and the like.

The mixing unit 30 should have a capacity of at least 2 cubic yards, atypical minimum quantity of mortar mix to pump into the void 36 to formthe encasing annulus 16. When gunite is locally available, the trailer31 may not utilize the mixing unit 30 or bulk storage 26. However, amortar rehandling connection may also provided so that a gunite deliverytruck can unload gunite to the trailer 31 and the gunite may be fed tothe annulus tool 40 at the design delivery rate via the tremie pump 22″.

A soil decant unit 32 may be provided for containment and filtration ofthe backfill materials evacuated by the suction pump 22′ to limitundesirable dispersion of the fines and granular materials on theworksite for environmental containment.

The jetting hoses 18 from the trailer mounted equipment will be hookedup to a jet pipe manifold 44 of the annulus tool 40. A vacuum hose 18will be connected to a vacuum and tremie manifold 54 of the annulus tool40.

A method of using the annulus tool 40 and servicing system is shown inreference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In use, the selected size annulus tool 40will be assembled around the pole 10 to be repaired. (FIG. 3, STAGE I).By way of non-limiting example, the annulus tool 40 may be formed of 2sections of a schedule 10, 14″ OD steel pipe (or bent steel plate) thatwill be fixed together with a fastener, such as pin connections, bolts,or screws to join the lugs 45. Alternatively, a band fastener may beapplied to the outer circumference of the cylindrical sidewall 43.

The annulus tool sections 41 may be separated from the support pole 10with 2″×¼′ spacers 43 that may be welded to the inside of the arcuatewall segment 43. The spacers 43 may be ¾″ wide, ¼″ thick, and 4″ longskids on the interior face of the support pole 10 or pile to allow forsliding along a longitudinal length of the support pole 10. The spacers43 may be 4″ long and spaced with 4″ openings. In the embodiment shown,the spacers 43 divide the annulus tool into 8 sections. Each sectioncreated by the spacers 43 may have two jetting nozzles 46 and at leastone 1.75″ inch pipe for the vacuum/tremie port 56 for removal ofdislodged back fill material and decayed wood waste and will be usedlater for tremieing the liquid mortar 52. The opening may optionallyhave provisions to receive at least one ½″ fiber or steel reinforcingrod 60. In some embodiments, the annulus tool 40 may be provisioned withone or more underwater cameras 70 at a bottom end of the annulus tool 40(one on each half) to observe when the bottom of the support pole 10 isclear of decayed material 12.

As would be understood, the support poles 10 may have a taper on theorder of ¼″ in the 4′ length of the annulus tool 40. The spacers mayhave to have a ¾″ skid on the surface next to the support pole 10. Thetool may have to be loosely fit in the beginning of the descent to allowfor that taper.

When the back fill material is sand or silt the material will have notrouble vacuuming to the surface. Stiff clay may come out initially toolarge or sticky to go up the 1.5″ vacuum pipe. The 1.5″ vacuum pipeswill be nozzled down to 1.25″ at the bottom to prevent marginal sizegravel from entering the pipe and forcing them to the bottom. Likewise,larger gravel may have difficulty moving to the surface, and that is anadditional reason for the camera 70. The annulus tool 40 may have to bepicked up and then re-jet some of the clay or jet the large gravel tothe bottom. A vibrator attached to the annulus will enable the largegravel to descend downward. Some of the finer material may be carried upthe void and bypass the vacuum on the ground surface 14.

Disposal of the Waste Soil—The volume of the annulus and the amount ofsolid soil to be disposed of is on the order of 4.2 cubic feet. With a10:1 dilution the volume of the solution of soil and water isapproximately 315 gallons. When the material is predominately granularit can be disposed of around the base of the mortar collar. When thereis a solution of fines in an urban setting, the 315 gallons may becollected to be hauled off site. In a rural setting the solution offines could probably be diked, or contained on the land.

Tremie the Mortar—After the cameras 70 clear the annulus at elevation−2.0 the vacuum conduit 18 will then be connected to the tremie pump 22″for delivery of the liquid mortar 52 and the tremie/fill process willbegin. With the reinforcing rods 60 in place, the annulus tool 40 isselectively raised by hand or a lifting mechanism, slowly as the void 36is progressively filled with the mortar grout 52. The system may alsoinclude an electric winch may be attached to the support pole 10, ifneeded, to selectively raise the annulus tool 40 when there isresistance. One or more vibrators may be available to assist in loweringand raising the tool, if needed. The one or more vibrators may alsofacilitate consolidation and compaction of the liquid mortar mix 52.

Pouring the Above Ground Segment—The annulus tool 40 is removed at grade14 and a Sonotube form 38, fabricated from a reinforced cardboard,plastic, fiberglass, metal, or the like, is inserted to replace thecylindrical shaped annulus tool 40. The pour pf the liquid mortar 52 isthen completed to a desired vertical distance above the ground surface14. The desired vertical distance is typically from 0.0′ to +1.0′ abovethe ground surface 14. When servicing pilings 10 in the vicinity of abody of water, the desired vertical distance may be selected based on ahigh watermark, a high tide level, or other desired clearance to preventdeterioration of the piling 10 by the waters contained in the body ofwater. In the case of some applications, a composite pole may be usedwith the mortar poured as high as 14.0′ elevation to not only remove thedecay but fire proof the pole and achieve a major increase in thestrength of the pole.

As with the subterranean pour, a small vibrator may be provided forcompaction of the elevated pour. The above pour should continueimmediately after the first pour so the first pour of mortar grout 52 isstill wet and a suitable bond is achieved between the subterranean andabove ground pours.

The historical method of installing wood utility poles 10 was to drill ahole that is at least 8″ larger in diameter than the butt end of thepole 10. Then the pole 10 is plumbed and centered in the hole for itsdesired vertical orientation. If the excavated material is suitable thenthe surrounding hole is back filled with the excavated material in 6″compacted lifts to get the lateral support necessary to support the pole10. Suitable back fill materials exclude bedrock, boulders, soft clay orsilt and poorly graded sand and any material when there is water in thehole. If the backfill material was unsuitable, the installation wouldused a select fill of well graded granular material or pea gravel orcrushed limestone, typically to a minus 5 sieve. Accordingly, afterassembly of the annulus tool 40 to the support pole 10, the 2″ annulusin this invention will be jetted down in the backfill material that wasrecompacted in the initial installation of the support pole 10 in a 4″soil annulus and the jetting should be relatively easy and can be donein any geological site condition.

Dislodging the backfill material—The basic design shows 2 jets with ½″plastic pipe per section or a spacing of every 2.5″. The jets may be lowpressure in environments with a sand back fill material and a highpressure in stiff clay back fill material. The jet piping may be PVC inlow pressure and copper or other metallic material in high pressureconditions. The plurality of jets 48 may have a rotating or a revolvingconical head of about 30 degrees and be similar to jets used in sinkingsheet piling. The jets 48 may be oriented on a 10-degree angle towardthe support pole 10. A collection manifold may be formed of 1.5″ plasticpipe at the top of the annulus tool 40 on each half section andhigh-pressure hoses 18 connected to each of the manifolds (FIG. 5). Thehoses will join in a “Y” connection and go to the pump 22.

Vacuuming the Soil—The vacuum/tremie ports 56 will also collect with amanifold 52 at the top of each half section and suction hoses 18 connectto them also. The suction hoses 18 may join in a “Y” connection and goto the vacuum pump 22′.

The annulus tool 40 according to aspects of the invention is shown inreference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The annulus tool 40 may include at least twosegments 41, 41′ that are connectable to surround the circumference ofthe support pole 10 to be repaired. The annulus tool 40 may have asupport frame defined by an arcuate wall segment 43 having connectinglugs 45 to retain the annulus tool 40 around the circumference of thesupport pole 10. An annular support plate 49 extends from an outersurface of the arcuate wall segment 43 and supports a jetting manifold42. When the segments 41 and 41′ are joined, the arcuate wall segments43 define a cylindrical wall surrounding an outer circumference of thesupport pole 10. A top plate 53 is attached to a top end of the arcuatewall segment and supports a vacuum/tremie manifold 54.

The jetting manifold 42 is configured to communicate the pressurizedfluid, such as water, via a plurality of spaced apart fluid jets 46 thatextend downwardly from an interior of the arcuate wall segment and areoriented to eject the pressurized fluid downward towards the groundsurface 14 surrounding the support pole 10. The jetting manifold 42 mayalso include a plurality of secondary fluid jets 48 that are configuredto direct the pressurized fluid towards the decay region 12 of thesupport pole 10 to hydraulically remove the decayed wood 12 from thesupport pole 10 to be repaired.

The vacuum/tremie manifold 52 has a plurality of spaced apart tubes thatare selectively coupled between a vacuum source and a source of mortar52. When coupled to the suction pump 22′, a plurality of vacuum/tremieports 56 are oriented to extract the hydraulic fluid and the fluidizedfill material to evacuate the void 36 about the support pole 10. Whencoupled to a mortar source, the vacuum/tremie manifold 52 delivers aslurry of mortar mix 52 within the evacuated void 36 surrounding thesupport pole 10.

The annulus tool 40 may also carry a plurality of spacers 47 interposedbetween the plurality of fluid jets 46 and the plurality ofvacuum/tremie ports 56. The spacers 47 are configured to carryreinforcing rods 60, such as rebar, which may be deposited in the mortar52 as the annulus tool 40 is withdrawn from the void 36.

Since the support poles 10 may have differing outer diameters, differentannulus tool 40 s may be required. As such, an inner diameter of theannulus tool 40 is dimensioned to correspond to that of a selectedsupport pole diameter, or range of diameters. The support poles 10 to beremediated will have been surveyed so that the size of support pole 10is known and an estimate of the decay amount 12 and location will beavailable.

Mortar Grout Design—The mortar mix 52 fill provides the strength andprotective barrier to correct for the structural deficiencies from priordecay and to simultaneously seal the pole so water and oxygen can nolonger infiltrate to the pole in the vulnerable area from elevation+0.5′ to −1.5′.

There have been recent developments in UHPC grouts that havesubstantially raised tensile and flexural strengths which will be usefulin developing the bending strength required. Cement mortars that havehigh ultimate strain values resulting in first crack and strain valuesbeing much lower than normal concrete are also desirable. The UHPCgrouts have attained bending strengths in the range of 3,000 to 3500 psiand this enables a repair that result in a support pole/pile 10 that isstronger than the original. At these levels re-bars 60 may not benecessary. These new grouts also are very dense with minimum voidsresulting in total resistance to not only insects but any chemicals inthe soil or water that would normally attack concrete.

To prevent air and water from infiltrating to the support pole 10 in theregion where the decay 12 occurs (elevation +0.5′ to −1.5′) an encasingannulus 52 of fiber reinforced grout 52 is poured around the oncedecayed area 12 and at least 0.5 feet above and below the decayed area12. The mortar mix 52 fills the void in the area evacuated by theannulus tool 40 suctioning as well as the voids in the support pole 12that are introduced with the removal of the decayed wood 12 from thesupport pole 10.

A desirable mortar mix 52 may have the following characteristics to forman encasing annulus 16 a thickness of about 2″:

Either steel or polypropylene fibers—2% by volume;

Durability and toughness;

High ultimate strain value of over 5% so first crack and first strainvalues are significantly lower than normal concrete. This results inmuch less cracking at the ultimate load and results in the materialbeing very ductile;

Shrinkage is low with additives;

Low permeability and high ductility;

Mix that can be pumped thru the conduit 18 and suction/tremie manifold52 and 1.75″ pipe;

A bonding agent, if required; and

A plasticizer for workability and pumping.

The selected mix chosen should result in an impervious barrier toprevent water and air infiltration from getting to the pole 10. Thegrout 52 may be reinforced with a fiber reinforcing bar 60 embedded inthe encasing annulus 16. The reinforcing bars 60 may be held in place by1″ steel loops (“U” shaped brackets) welded to the annulus tool 40 andfixed at the top to the support pole 10. As the annulus tool 40 iswithdrawn, the one or more reinforcing bars 60 stay in place. The upperends of the one or more reinforcing bars 60 may be stapled to thesupport pole 10 to retain them in place. The reinforcing bars 60 may bea metallic rebar or a fiber reinforcing bar.

Application of the Invention

Utilities Mounted Vertically on the Support Pole—For grounding cablesmounted to the support pole 10, simply unstaple and move out of the wayfor the repair and then restaple to secure the cable to the support pole10. The grounding rod is normally out of way. For TV and Telephonewires, typically they are only buried about 12″ deep so they beunstapled and moved out of the way for the repair. After completion, thecables may be reconnected.

Power Cables—They are typically either 18″ or 24″ in depth and may havea plastic or metal enclosure on the pole. If they are enclosed or ifthere are more than one, the pole is probably not economical forutilization of the invention. Most of the occurrence of power lines onthe pole 10 vertically occur when servicing an underground residentialpower supply and usually in urban areas.

Plastic Tool Design—The tool when constructed of steel weighs 200 poundsin total or 100 pounds per half. A tool made of high strength plasticmay be provided to reduce the weight in the field (25 pounds/half) andto cut costs. The plastic tool may be cast as one unit with a plastichinge.

Structural Piles—there are about 50 million wooden piles in the USA.They are located as follows:

Projects where the pile supports an upper structure and the annulus canbe mounted with no concrete to be removed. Another example are crawlspaces. These projects would be performed with the procedures just likea normal pole repair project.

Projects where the pile is supporting and is embedded in concrete slabsor concrete pile caps. The concrete has to be removed to repair the pileand then it can be repaired like a normal pole project. The pilesembedded in pile caps will probably be replaced and not repaired.

Marine Projects with a shallow water pile. Marine borers in the top 2′of mud require jetting the annulus into the mud and then sealing theentire pile with grout up to the surface. This will structurally repairthe decay at the tidal splash zone and prevent any future decay alongthe pile. Depending on the depth of water and tide range, the annuluswill have to be longer than in a dry environment. The annulus willoperate inside a taped and banded jacket or sonotube for 12 hours whilethe mortar sets up. The truck/plant may be on a barge or on top of thepier.

Marine Projects in deep water—in large ship wharfs (like 40′ deep) wherethere Is marine bore damage in the mud line and gibbles type insectdamage in the tidal splash zone it may be economical to repair the pilein 2 steps. First mount the pile with the annulus system and lower itdown into the mud line. Proceed with the standard jetting and Tremiemethod to a depth of 2′ in the mud. Then grout the mud line and thenraise the annulus out of the mud until it is in the tidal splash zoneThe annulus would now need a form outside and below the annulus tocontain the UHPC mortar. This form could be a plastic removable jacketthat would be lowered into position at low tide. The annulus tool wouldthen pump mortar as it was raised thru the jacket. The jacket would stayin place for 12 hours and then be recovered. Both high risk areas formarine bore and insect damage are now protected from future damage andthe pile is returned to full strength.

Rail Road Trestles and Bridges—There are a lot of wood pile structureson rail road rights of way. Some piles 10 are on dry land and some overshallow bodies of water.

Repair Leaning Poles—Many utility poles are leaning due to highsustained winds or ground line decay damage or both together Theseleaning poles are prevalent in coastal areas. The procedure to returnthis pole to full capacity is as follows:

Drill the pole 10 to determine the amount of decay 12;

Attach a winch from tractor to a point high on the pole 10;

Loosen or hand auger the soil on the pull side of the pole 10;

Straighten the pole 10 with the winch;

Jet and pour annulus to −3.0′ elev. Use the method in this invention;and

Substitute a concrete ballast block for the tractor to free it up andleave that tension on overnight.

New Pole Application—This system may be also be applied to new pilesright after they are installed. Simply jet the annulus tool down a halffoot below the anticipated future damage area (−2.0′) and fill thatannulus with the fiber reinforced grout. This can be done for a fractionof the cost of the damaged poles that need to be repaired. This wouldresult in a stronger composite pile with no future decay issues.

Precasting the Mortar Annulus—New Pole—The 2″ mortar annulus 16 may beprecast in a factory on the new wood pole and the composite structureinstalled in a larger hole.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An annulus excavation tool, comprising: acylindrical sidewall dimensioned to surround a circumference of asupport pole; a jetting manifold configured to receive a pressurizedfluid source; a plurality of fluid jets in communication with thejetting manifold, the plurality of fluid jets disposed in a spaced apartrelation within an interior of the cylindrical sidewall and are orientedto eject the pressurized fluid source downward towards a ground surfacesurrounding the support pole; a vacuum/tremie manifold configured forcommunication with a vacuum source; and a plurality of vacuum/tremieports in communication with the vacuum/tremie manifold, the plurality ofvacuum/tremie ports disposed in a spaced apart relation within thecylindrical sidewall and oriented to evacuate a back fill material fromthe ground surface surrounding the support pole to define a void.
 2. Theannulus excavation tool of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality ofauxiliary jets oriented towards an interior of the cylindrical sidewalland direct the pressurized fluid source against an exterior surface thesupport pole.
 3. The annulus excavation tool of claim 2, furthercomprising: a plurality of auxiliary jets oriented towards an exteriorof the cylindrical sidewall.
 4. The annulus excavation tool of claim 1,further comprising: a plurality of segments, wherein each segmentcomprises a portion of each of the cylindrical sidewall, the jettingmanifold, and the vacuum/tremie manifold; the plurality of fluid jets,and the plurality of vacuum/tremie ports.
 5. The annulus excavation toolof claim 4, further comprising: a fastener to join each of the pluralityof segments.
 6. The annulus excavation tool, of claim 1, wherein thevacuum/tremie manifold and the plurality of vacuum/tremie ports areconfigured to deliver a liquid mortar mix into the void.
 7. A method ofreinforcing a support pole, comprising: attaching an annulus excavationtool around a support pole installed in a ground surface, the annulusexcavation tool having a cylindrical sidewall; applying a pressurizedfluid source to the annulus excavation tool; and directing thepressurized fluid source to dislodge a backfill material retaining thesupport pole in the ground surface by a plurality of fluid jets disposedin a spaced apart relation around an interior surface of the cylindricalsidewall of the annulus excavation tool.
 8. The method of claim 7,further comprising: evacuating a dislodged backfill material by a vacuumsource applied to a plurality of vacuum/tremie ports disposed in aspaced apart relation about the annulus excavation tool.
 9. The methodof claim 7, further comprising: directing the pressurized fluid sourceagainst a decayed surface of the support pole via a plurality ofinwardly oriented fluid jets in communication with the pressurized fluidsource.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: selectivelylowering the annulus excavation tool to progressively dislodge andevacuate the backfill material to a desired depth in the ground surface.11. The method of claim 10, wherein the desired depth is below thedecayed surface of the support pole. injecting a liquid mortar mixturethrough the plurality of vacuum/tremie ports to fill a void around thesupport pole created by evacuation of the dislodged backfill material.12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: selectively withdrawingthe annulus excavation tool to fill the void with the liquid mortarmixture.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: applying asonotube around the support pole, the sonotube extending a desiredvertical distance above the ground surface.
 14. The method of claim 13,further comprising: pouring the liquid mortar mixture into the sonotube.15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: filling the sonotubewith the liquid mortar mixture to the desired vertical distance.
 16. Asystem for servicing a support pole installation, comprising: an annulusexcavation tool having a plurality of jets oriented to direct apressurized fluid source to dislodge a backfill material retaining thesupport pole in a ground surface, a plurality of vacuum/tremie ports toselectively evacuate the dislodged backfill material to define a voidaround the support pole communicate a liquid mortar to fill the void, areservoir containing a volume of the fluid; a pressure delivery pump incommunication with the reservoir; and a suction pump in selectivecommunication with the plurality of vacuum/tremie ports and a decantunit to contain a quantity of the evacuated backfill material.
 17. Thesystem of claim 16, further comprising: a mixing unit configured to mixa predetermined quantity of the liquid mortar; and a tremie pump incommunication with the mixing unit to selectively deliver the liquidmortar to the vacuum/tremie ports.
 18. The system of claim 17, furthercomprising: a materials container configured to communicate apredetermined quantity of a dry mortar mix to the mixing unit.
 19. Thesystem of claim 18, further comprising: a storage unit for storing theannulus excavation tool; and a generator for powering one or more of thepressure delivery pump, the suction pump, the tremie pump, and themixing unit.
 20. The system of claim 19, further comprising: a controlstation having a plurality of controls for operating one or more of thegenerator, the pressure delivery pump, the suction pump, the tremiepump, and the mixing unit.